Miners’ Meeting at Denaby Main

A meeting of miners was held at the Reresby Arms, Denaby Main, on Friday evening last. Mr. J. Dixon, checkweighman at the colliery, occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr. W. W. Chappell (secretary of the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Miners’ Association), Mr. Aitcheson (Sheffield), and Mr. Rawlinson (delegate from South Staffordshire).

The Chairman briefly referred to the object of the gathering, which was held for the purpose of explaining, reorganising, and strengthening the union. The resolutions passed at the last meeting had done much good, but still there were many outside the pale of the association who ought to help to support it. With reference to the South Staffordshire strike, he said the masters had partly given way, and if the men obtained assistance for another week or two they would be enabled to accomplish their object, which was to go to work again at the old rate of wages. It behoved the men of Denaby to render special assistance to their brethren in South Staffordshire for another week. (Applause.)

He called on Mr. Aitcheson to address the meeting, who spoke at some length on the state of affairs in the political world. He was followed by Mr. Chappell, who referred to the business of the recent Congress, and more especially to the proposal to form a national federation of trades unions. Some were of opinion that these organisations should be bound together morally—that is, there should be an understanding between every trade in the country that when the interests of one were touched and a strike occurred, the remainder should render what moral support they could in the way of passing resolutions of sympathy.

When the monetary point was spoken of, the delegates, with the exception of a very few, shrank away from the question. He did not believe that they could do anything nationally unless they could help each other with good hard cash. He made reference to the strike existing in South Staffordshire, and said if the men had been supported throughout the country, as well as in a little district like theirs, and the Barnsley district had supported them, the question would have been ended that day, as the employers would have seen that the country was determined to help them.

One question discussed at the Congress was the Employers’ Liability Bill. He contended that the men throughout the district were losing scores and scores of pounds which should go into the pockets of the bereaved relatives of miners who had met with fatal accidents, or towards the support of those who had been so severely injured that they were unable to follow their employment. If they could get an arrangement—and he was sure they could get it at certain places—that in the case of fatal accidents the owners should pay £40, and in the case of non-fatal accidents, involving loss of employment, £30 should be paid to the victim, such arrangement not to interfere with any benefits to which they were entitled from the Permanent Relief Society, it would be an excellent thing. (Applause.)

At present they were losing all that, whereas they were gaining nothing under the present system. When they had an accident where they were satisfied that they had a case for compensation, the men would not come forward to swear what they really knew about the case. If the men would not come forward and give evidence, so as to allow the bereaved ones to go to law and claim what the law said they were entitled to, the next best thing would be to have an agreement which was not contracting out of the Act, and which would influence the owners of collieries to keep the pits in proper order.

They required an alteration in the law—and there was a recent case at Barnsley which would form a basis for his remarks—so that when a claim was made for three years’ wages as compensation for injury the owners should not appeal if the claimants were successful. (Hear, hear.) The judge’s verdict in the first instance should be final, and the money should be paid forthwith to the claimants.

He spoke in terms of gratification concerning the proposed increase in mining inspectors, and concluded by urging on the men the desirability of joining and so strengthening the union.

Mr. Rawlinson spoke at some length on the strike in South Staffordshire, and made an earnest appeal for help. If the sun of prosperity ever rose above the horizon in South Staffordshire, and the cloud of adversity were to overspread the South Yorkshire district, the Denaby miners, at a future day, would be assured of support. (Applause.)

At the close of the meeting resolutions pledging the miners of Denaby to use their influence in order to obtain a substantial sum for the benefit of the South Staffordshire miners and to strengthen the union were carried amid cheers.

Votes of thanks to the Chairman and other speakers closed the proceedings.